Closing Date: 17th February, 2025

Description:

Job Description:
Assistant Attorney General - State Agency Counsel - Office of State Debt Collection
The State Agency Counsel Division of the Utah Attorney General's Office has an immediate opening for an Attorney to assist the Office of State Debt Collection in its duties. The incumbent in this position collects debt for the State in a variety of cases and will also assist the Office of State Debt Collection with general counsel work. This position may also assist other attorneys in the division with research and writing, statutory interpretation, and general counsel work.

The successful applicant will have excellent research and writing skills, as well as the ability to communicate with other attorneys, clients and members of the public in a professional and tactful manner. Experience in debt collection procedures required. Preference will be given to applicants who have experience with government representation. The position will be located at the Taylorsville State Office Building.

Responsibilities:
  • Prepares cases by conducting legal research and gathering evidence.
  • Provides consultation, makes recommendations, gives appropriate advice, and/or facilitates decisions.
  • Determine needs in discovery, and/or completes discovery; participates in decision making and strategy sessions in preparing cases for court and determining evidence to be used.
  • Writes or drafts correspondence, reports, discovery, motions, documents and/or other written materials.
  • Receives, researches and responds to incoming questions; provides information, explains considerations, and/or facilitates a resolution.
  • Represents the state and other governmental entities in lawsuits, grievances, and complaints.
  • Drafts litigation working documents; prepares documents consisting of concise decisions based upon facts of case interpretations of law and compliance with state and federal standards.
  • Conducts conferences with defendants and/or attorneys, negotiate settlements, and with court.
  • Conducts, or represents agency at, formal or informal hearings and trials.

Qualifications:
(includes knowledge, skills, and abilities required upon entry into position and trainable after entry into position)
  • communicate information and ideas clearly, and concisely, in writing; read and understand information presented in writing
  • read, interpret and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and/or procedures
  • speak clearly, concisely and effectively; listen to, and understand, information and ideas as presented verbally
  • legal processes and procedures
  • applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures
  • civil and criminal justice laws
  • rules of ethics and civility
  • understand and apply case and statutory law
  • evaluate information against a set of standards
  • use logic to analyze or identify underlying principles, reasons, or facts associated with information or data to draw conclusions
  • laws, legal codes, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, the democratic political process, and legislative history
  • perform legal research using case law and appropriate techniques
  • laws governing access to public and private records (Government Records Access and Management Act)
  • make a decision or solve a problem by using logic to identify key facts, explore alternatives, and propose quality solutions
  • deal with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
  • provide consultation and/or expert advice or testimony
  • rules of evidence
  • interpret and apply legal decisions and identify current and emerging trends in interpretation
  • principles, theories, and practices of judicial or administrative law

Supplemental Information:
  • A Juris Doctorate is required.
  • Risks found in the typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated, e.g., safe use of office equipment, avoiding trips and falls, observing fire regulations, etc.
  • Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be some walking; standing; bending; carrying light items; driving an automobile, etc. Special physical demands are not required to perform the work.
  • A conditional offer of employment will be made pending a satisfactory completion of a background investigation.
  • Active membership in the Utah State Bar.
  • Must be able to travel as required.
  • Valid driver license required to drive a motor vehicle on a highway in this state per UCA 53-3-202(1)(a).
  • Salary is calculated based on initial Bar admittance year, less any years not practicing law, as outlined below.